Mr. James E. Thompson, Project Manager for Apache Modernization and Recapitalization, PEO Aviation, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama

The Army Aviation Association of America (AAAA) has announced its Calendar Year 2004 National Award Winners. Winning units and individuals are being recognized at the AAAA Annual Convention, being held this week, May 9-11, 2005, in Orlando, Fla. The AAAA Annual Convention provides an opportunity for its members to gather with government and industry representatives concerned with Army Aviation and participate in the professional program and exhibits.

The first AAAA Annual Convention was held in June 1959 and has taken place every year since then. In recent years, the sites of the AAAA Annual Convention have included Atlanta, Ga.; Fort Worth, Texas and Nashville, Tenn.

Mr. James "Snuff' Thompson is recognized for his outstanding leadership, management and direction of modernization, modification, sustainment and reset efforts of the Apache aircraft fleet. Mr. Thompson deployed to combat areas in Afghanistan and Iraq to coordinate, organize and direct support for Apache field operations. His efforts made an immediate, direct and positive impact on aircraft safety and readiness, and near immediate increases in unit combat power.

He was instrumental in leading the Apache Reset Team and established a priority system to reset all 222 Apaches used during the initial OEF and OIF operations. Of these, 23 aircraft had severe combat damage and needed extensive depot level repairs. Mr. Thompson's synchronization of the Reset and Recapitalization programs yielded cost savings and diminished the burden on the Army supply system. Each aircraft undergoing concurrent Reset/Recap saved a potential $1 million in parts that might have otherwise had an adverse impact on an already taxed supply system. The results of Mr. Thompson's streamlining of the Reset program reduced the initial Reset times from an average of over 150 days, down to an average of 72 days.

Mr. Thompson also assisted in the transfer of six AH-64D Longbows from Fort Rucker, Ala. to Fort Hood, and on to Iraq. He completed all required coordination and paperwork, including pre-deployment modifications for movement by C-5 Globe master, all within 45 days of receiving the aircraft delivery order. His performance leaves no doubt that Mr. Thompson is an outstanding role model for today's Department of the Army Civilians.

FMI: www.quad-a.org